Checking system for harness.



No. 814,835. I PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906.

J. CURTAIN; CHECKING SYSTEM FOR HARNESS.-

' APPLICATION nun snrr.,s.1 sos.

T STATES PArENT orrion.

JOHN'CURTAIN, or ELKFALLS, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO CLARENCE CURTAIN or OIROLEVILLE, orno,

CHECKING SYSTEM, FOR HARNESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 13, 1906.

Application filed September 6,1906. Serial No. 277,192.

To (Ll/- "whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN CURTAIN, a citi-;

zen of the United States, residing at Elkfalls,

in the county of Elk and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Checking Systems for Hare, ness; and I'do hereby declare thefollowing to beja full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others by the a paratus will be elastic throughout,

as the c ecking is from the chin with overdraw-straps, which are held from pressure,

against the face of the animal and so arranged as to allow the animal to have freedom of movement of its head without inconvenience incident to the checking mechan- 1sm.

Heretofore it has been common to utilize checking apparatus in which horses are checked from the mouth to the tail, with connections which are rigid throughout and where overdraw-checks are used, and pressure comes upon the top and face of the animal and the straps have a tendency to interfere with the mane and are apt to chafe the face and the head ofthe animal, so as to cause irritation, soreness, and always causing discomfort, which is manifested by uneasiness in the head of the animal tossing and fretting. To obviate these difiiculties, I propose inmy improved checking system to provide an elastic or spring chin-check, which is held in place by means of projecting arms from the bit and connected to the overdraw-straps,

- which are held from contact with the face or head of the animal by means of rigid looparms fastened to the crown-strapof a bridle.

My invention comprises various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showingthe "tion of one of the'loo -plates.

Reference now belng had to the details of application of my strap to the head of a horse. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the bridle with checking apparatus attached thereto, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the spring chinchecking feature. Fig. 4 is a detail modificathe drawings by letter, A designates the crown-strap of a bridle of the ordinary construction having a throat-strap B and 'bitconnecting straps The bit (designated by letter- D in the drawings) is shown as made up of two sections which areconnected together,

although any form of bit may be utilized, and

rings E are connected to the ends of the bitsections. Each bit section has the usual guard-finger E projecting therefrom, which is utilized in my invention for the purpose of holding the spring chin-checking member F in place. Said member comprises two coiled springs G and G, which are connected together at their ends to an eye H, and a suitable covering K, of leather or other material, confines the two springs and allows the same to yield without interference therewith. Said covering for the springs is provided with two slots N to receive the fingers which project from the bit-rings, and cross-pieces O are soldered or otherwise fastened to said fingers after the latter have been inserted through the.

slots in the casing for the purpose of holding the casing upon said fingers To the eyes at the ends of said springs are connected the ends of theoverdraw check-straps M, which straps have a connecting-piece Q going over the nose of the animal, and said overdraw check-straps passing up over the face of the animal are eld from contact with said face by their being passed through the apertures in the ends of the loop-plates J, which are riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to the crownstrap of the bridle. It will be noted that said loop-plates each has its rear end turned at right angles to the portion which is riveted to the crown-strap with its rear face flush with the rear edge of said crown-strap, while the forward ends of said plates are in a perpendicular line with the face, which relieves the face and head of all pressure, the checkstraps passing from the rear ends of said loopplates direct to the check-hook upon the saddle of a harness.

From the foregoing it will be noted that by the provision of a checking system, as shown .ing system for horses, it will be understood that I may vary the details of the same, if desired, in various ways without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. Achecking apparatus for harnesses comprising, in combination with a bit and bridle, a yielding member, connections between the same and said bit for holding said member in place, an overdraw check-strap connected to said member, loop-plates fastened to the crown-strap of the bridle, the rear ends of said plates being bent at right angles and having apertures therein, the forward ends projecting from the forward edge of the crown-strap and having apertures to receive the check-strap, as set forth.

2. Achecking apparatus for harnesses comprising, in combination with a bit and bridle, springs, eyes to which the eyes of said springs are connected, an overdraw check-strap having ends secured to said eyes, means for holding said check-straps from contact with the face and head of an animal, a covering for said springs, said covering for the springs having apertures to receive fingers which proj ect from the rings of the bit, and cross-pieces fastened to said fingers to retain the latter in the apertures of said covering, as set forth.

, In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JOHN CURTAIN. Witnesses:

B. F, BRILL, R. D. RICHOLSON. 

